Best nail polish?

[Notfootball]

I've been using Revlon as I used to by it duty-free but they are getting old.

What are the best brands, cheap-mid priced?

[cardamomginger]

Essie. Brush is great. Chanel is crap. Thin as water and chips.

[itsbetterthanabox]

Auntiebrenda which companies does the cosmetics giant make polish for?
It's difficult because pro brands like OPI and china glaze have a much larger, ever changing range that do so many different unique colours and finishes that you don't get much in the cheap brands. For example 'jelly' polishes have been around for ages but only recently have cheap brands started making many and even then only in limited colours.

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

Thanks Jet. Just made good use of that link

[Fubsy]

A England is a lovely indie brand available online. Their formula and brushes are lovely, great colours.

a-england.co.uk

[GobblersKnob]

How could I forget a england? I have loads and loads and have just painted my toes in Galahad!

Tbf though I don't think it has great staying power, I tend to get three days max, though that is made up for by being very easy to remove and never, ever staining.

[Notfootball]

Trying out two cheapies named upthread, MUA and Collection. Shall in set in Seche Vite next week.

[ShelaghTurner]

I use Sally Hansen base and top coat and then absolutely anything and everything in between it. I have a range right down to a pound a bottle stuff and get 4 days max out of any of it. But the SH makes it peel off so it's super easy to remove!

I'm going between an Essie one, a Max Factor one and a Superdrug one at the moment and there is no difference in the staying power of them.

[itsbetterthanabox]

Secretlemonade yes I've done the DIY gels. I have a bottle of gelous. For me it didn't really last much longer unfortunately. I prob got 2-3 days without chips .
I like gelous anyway though because it helps protect the nail where it's so thick.

[Fubsy]

Is there anything that can extend the life of as manicure apart from not doing anything? If I'm on holiday away from home and not cooking/washing/working generally I get fewer chips in polish - the rest of the time I can chip the next day, which is frustrating as I like bright and unusual colours.

I haven't noticed much differences in longevity across brands, and I've tried a few (understatement!). Only difference I find is that sometimes cheaper brands are streakier in first application, but even then not always.

[WilburIsSomePig]

I also think a base coat and really good top coat means that you can go for whatever colour you want in any brand.

[SecretLimonadeDrinker]

Thanks for the report itsbetter how disappointing.

May have to invest in a home gels kit.

[commsgirl]

Essie, the Barry M Gelly ones and Butter London (bit pricier).

I always use Seche Vite topcoat.

[polyhymnia]

Essie are my favourite .

[AuntieBrenda]

In answer to a pp, my friend works for the umbrella org of Leighton Denny, Joan Collins cosmetics, sun believable tan amongst others. It's brilliant - I test lots of stuff for her!

[SaladCreamOnEverthing]

MUA great for staying power and colour - definitely my favourite!

[TheMagicToyshop]

I'm a big fan of models own, but agree you're basically paying for colour and a better brush with upmarket nail polish, it's the top coat that makes the difference. I like seche vite but find it causes shrinkage as the bottle gets used, Sally Hansen Insta dry is my current favourite.

In response to a PP's question about protecting your nails, washing up gloves are your friend for any chip worthy tasks!

[DialsMavis]

Chanel is crap on my nails, chips quicker than primark! I like models own

[commsgirl]

I agree, Chanel is possibly the worst!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I've only tried MUA once, but it was very watery and streaky. I don't think the Barry M Gelly ones are great either, the colours aren't as nice on as they look in the bottles. I bought a Collection 1000 one at the weekend and although it needed three coats it went on well and is holding up nicely.

[Carpaccio]

Depends on the colours - some of the Essie colours are horrible, while others are brilliant. Same with Chanel, OPI and cheaper brands.

I absolutely love Guerlain's polishes - the brush is great, I haven't had a colour that wasn't great (with regards to application, drying time and how long it lasts on the nail).
Dior has the same brush shape, but I find their polishes a bit thicker and therefore not as nice to apply - but I only have a few of them.

Chanel polishes are decent, but the brush isn't nice. Some of the polishes are better to apply and last longer than others.

OPI generally is pretty good.

I have 6 Essie polishes and there are 2 I'm happy with, the rest either dry slowly, apply badly or chip after a short while (less than a day).

Cheaper brands like Essence (Wilko sells it) and Catrice (not sure if sold in the UK, but available in Germany, Switzerland and other countries) are very good. These 2 brands are very good at making dupes of more expensive polishes.

Tom Ford polishes aren't worth the money. They do not dry properly - even after several hours, the polish will dent - and that's even with thin layers. Not pleased about that.

I personally find that using a nail hardener helps my nail polish last longer - it simply doesn't chip as quickly. I use one from Mavala that's applied to the white tip of the nail only, and only used once or twice a week.

[ChameleonCircuit]

I keep saying this, but I love A-England. I have loads of her polishes. I'm lusting after some of the Cirque colours too, but have so far resisted.

[MrsFlorrick]

Essie and Zoya. Both super hard wearing. Zoya is my face as its 5 free (as in free of five worst/carcinogen chemicals generally in nail polish). Essie is only 3 free.

Essie undercoated makes my nails peel. So I avoid that.

Butter London is also 5 free but absolutely no staying power. Sadly. I was gifted 3 bottles. Lovely colours but hopeless. You may as well paint your nails with crayons. Sadly

Only issue with Zoya is that it's only online. Bit annoying.

I've tried lots of others and most have disappointed. Poss exception is Rimmel. Good staying power even without top coat.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I find the problem with Essie is the display lighting, the colours look totally different to how they turn out when you wear them.

My problem is not so much chips as the tips wearing, my nail tips are very white so they show if I wear anything but very pale colours. I've tried painting over the edges, with both colour and topcoats but to no avail.

[andream34]

I love NYC, I really like some of the colours such as in the photo. Will try MUA though, coz I think the eye shadow (also £1) is brilliant.